Sanders says hard work ahead on Chargers stadium

In his strongest show of support yet for building the Chargers a new football stadium, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and three advisers will leave today for a three-day U.S. tour of downtown sports and entertainment districts.

They’ll visit Kansas City, Mo., Indianapolis and Denver, spending a day in each with mayors and venue managers to see how San Diego might remake its own downtown.

It will be one of Sanders’ longest business trips in six years, and it comes at a politically charged time, with 15 months left in his final term in office and as Los Angeles pursues a football stadium that could lure the Chargers away.

Sanders' itinerary

Why this city?: Close to a convention center, its nine-block downtown Power & Light District is billed as the midwest’s premier entertainment epicenter.

What’s there?: It has shops, restaurants, bars and other venues, anchored by Sprint Center, an arena built in 2007 and touted as one of the busiest “on the planet.”

What’s the draw?: Sprint Center is an 18,000-seat venue used for many concerts and other events, but without a major league sports tenant. Observers say an NBA or NHL tenant is unlikely any time soon.

What did that cost?: It was built for $276 million, 10 percent over initial projections. The city paid $222.8 million, or 80 percent. AEG, which operates it, paid the remaining $53.2 million.

Indianapolis

Why this city?: The sprawling, downtown Wholesale District is an example of what San Diego officials say is possible here.

What’s there?: It is home to hotels, hot spots, a basketball arena, a convention center and a football stadium.

What’s the draw?: In 2008, the 63,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Colts play football, was built along with a convention center expansion.

What did that cost?: The stadium cost $720 million, and the entire project approached $1 billion. The Colts contributed $100 million (minus $48 million the city gave the team to terminate an existing lease.) The rest came from taxes on food and beverages, hotels, tickets, restaurants and car rentals.

Denver

Why this city?: Its 23-block LoDo (Lower Downtown) District is known as an example of urban renewal. It’s a few miles from Invesco Field, where the Broncos play football.

What’s there?: Attractions include the Pepsi Center, which hosts basketball and hockey games, and Coors Field for baseball.

What’s the draw?: Construction of the 50,000-seat Coors Field in 1995 and other ballparks nationwide ushered in a wave of downtown sports venues and development.

What did that cost?: The ballpark cost $215 million with the Rockies paying $47 million, or 22 percent, and the public contributing $168 million, or 78 percent, from a one-tenth of one percent sales tax in a six-county region.

Sanders on the Chargers

April 2006: "We can't go out to taxpayers and say, 'We can afford a new stadium but we can't resurface your streets.'"

August 2006: "We've been very clear that we don't have the money. I don't want to spend taxpayer money."

November 2009: "I think that after four years, we certainly have to give them a signal on what we intend to do or how we want to do it or what we can do, and then start working together to see if we can achieve a solution."

October 2010: "We've always said there could be no general fund money used for that (the stadium.) Redevelopment dollars, as long as it's used in a development area, that's legitimate."

April 2011: If I were (Chagers owner) Dean (Spanos), I'd be the most frustrated person on Earth. And that's the reason I've told him we'll try to work with him, and we'll put the weight of my office behind it as long as I can."

August 2011: "I can't speak for the Chargers, but I think what they're going to want to see is what our intentions are coming off this trip, coming together and starting to create a plan, and I think they'll have a very good idea about that."